A new German annual peace report paints a bleak picture of global security, pointing to a wider pattern of sustained or intensifying armed conflicts and questions about the resilience of international law. The report cites major wars and regional escalations, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It also references military actions involving Israel and the United States, including attacks on Iran, alongside ongoing fighting connected to Israel’s campaigns in the region. In Africa, the report describes civil wars and protracted instability that continue to drag on, emphasizing that violence is not confined to one region.
Across the sources, the central theme is that conflict dynamics in the modern era increasingly resemble a world where armed actors pursue power and territory, raising concerns about whether existing legal and diplomatic frameworks are being upheld. The report’s framing focuses less on a single event and more on the overall trend of conflict persistence and escalation, and the resulting strain on international legal norms meant to govern the use of force and protect civilians.
